The Berkeley Law and Organizing Collective (BLOC) provides law students with an opportunity to provide legal support for worker organizing on the Berkeley campus. BLOC members work closely with UAW Local 2865, the largest academic student employee union in the country. They gain experience in union contract enforcement, “know-your-rights” training, strategic research, and labor organizing. They hone their skills in conducting intake, assessing claims, devising arguments, speaking publicly, and filing and digitizing official records. BLOC members also gain ample familiarity with union governance and labor policy initiatives in California.
Additionally, law students who join BLOC for the 2022-2023 academic year will have the opportunity to support workplace organizing and contract bargaining. Students may also have the opportunity to conduct strategic research and organizing to combat ongoing austerity measures at the University of California in coalition with other UC unions and organizations.
Supervision: Students engaged in BLOC’s efforts receive supervision from attorneys at the law firm, Schwartz, Steinsapir, Dohrmann & Sommers.
Time commitment: 2-3 hours per week averaged over the course of the semester; 4-6 hours of training and orientation early in the semester.
For more information, please contact the student leaders at ProBonoBLOC@berkeley.edu.